Aquaponic System

Abstract

An aquaponic system generally comprises an aquarium module, a garden module and a reservoir module. The aquarium module is generally configured to be installed on a supporting structure (e.g. a cabinet). The garden module is generally configured to be installed on the supporting structure near the aquarium module, in front, beside or even all around it. The garden module is generally configured to support terrestrial and/or semi-aquatic plants. The reservoir module is typically installed inside the supporting structure with the utilities (e.g. pumps). The system is generally designed such that the waste water from the aquarium module flows to the garden module where it irrigates the plants and where it is at least partially filtered by plants which consume at least some of the waste products contained in the water.

1 . An aquaponic system comprising:
 a) an aquarium module configured to house and support aquatic species, the aquarium module configured to hold water;   b) a garden module configured to support plant species, the garden module being located at a level lower than a water level of the aquarium module, the garden module being in fluid communication with the aquarium module such as to receive waste water therefrom, the waste water containing waste products;   c) a reservoir module configured to hold water, the reservoir module being located at a level lower than the garden module, the reservoir module being in fluid communication with the garden module such as to receive water therefrom, the reservoir module comprising a pump and being in fluid communication with the aquarium module such as to pump water back to the aquarium module;   
       wherein the plants located in the garden module consume at least a portion of the waste products contained in the waste water. 
     
     
         2 . An aquaponic system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the aquarium module is in fluid communication with the garden module via at least one first drain conduit. 
     
     
         3 . An aquaponic system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the aquarium module comprises at least one skimmer connected to the at least one first drain conduit. 
     
     
         4 . An aquaponic system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the at least one first drain conduit comprises at least one filter fluidly mounted thereto, the at least one filter being configured to remove at least a portion of the waste products contained in the waste water. 
     
     
         5 . An aquaponic system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the at least one first drain conduit comprises inwardly extending protrusions to break the flow of waste water such as to force waste water and air to mix. 
     
     
         6 . An aquaponic system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the garden module is in fluid communication with the reservoir module via at least one second drain conduit. 
     
     
         7 . An aquaponic system as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the garden module comprises at least one draining system fluidly connected to the at least one second drain conduit and configured to regularly drain at least a portion of the water contained in the garden module to the reservoir module. 
     
     
         8 . An aquaponic system as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the at least one draining system is at least one bell siphon. 
     
     
         9 . An aquaponic system as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the at least one bell siphon is configured to start draining water contained in the garden module when the water reaches a first level, and to stop draining water contained in the garden module when the water reaches a second level lower than the first level. 
     
     
         10 . An aquaponic system as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the bell siphon comprises a cap. 
     
     
         11 . An aquaponic system as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the cap comprises at least one aperture located above the first level, the at least one aperture being configured to allow air to flow in the bell siphon when the bell siphon drains the water. 
     
     
         12 . An aquaponic system as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the at least one second drain conduit comprises at least one filter fluidly mounted thereto, the at least one filter being configured to remove at least a portion of the waste products contained in the water. 
     
     
         13 . An aquaponic system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir module is in fluid communication with the aquarium module via at least one return conduit, the at least one return conduit being fluidly connected to the pump. 
     
     
         14 . An aquaponic system as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the at least one return conduit has a nomimal inner cross-section, and wherein the at least one return conduit comprises at least one dampening region having an inner cross-section larger than the nominal inner cross-section. 
     
     
         15 . An aquaponic system as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the at least one return conduit comprises a plurality of dampening regions. 
     
     
         16 . An aquaponic system as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein an extremity of the at least one return conduit is configured such that water exiting the at least one return conduit falls into the aquarium module. 
     
     
         17 . An aquaponic system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the garden module comprises at least one plant bed, the at least one plant bed comprising a substrate for supporting the plants. 
     
     
         18 . An aquaponic system as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the substrate comprises beads of porous material. 
     
     
         19 . An aquaponic system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir module comprises a heating system of heating the water in the reservoir. 
     
     
         20 . An aquaponic system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir module comprises a cooling system of cooling the water in the reservoir. 
     
     
         21 . An aquaponic system as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a manual cleaning system fluidly in communication with the garden module. 
     
     
         22 . An aquaponic system as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the manual cleaning system comprises a siphon. 
     
     
         23 . An aquaponic system as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a lighting system configured to provide suitable light sources for the aquatic species and for the plants. 
     
     
         24 . An aquaponic system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the aquatic species comprise fishes. 
     
     
         25 . An aquaponic system comprising:
 a) an aquarium module configured to house and support aquatic species, the aquarium module configured to hold water;   b) a garden module configured to support plant species, the garden module being located substantially adjacent to the aquarium module and at a level lower than a water level of the aquarium module, the garden module being in fluid communication with the aquarium module via at least one first drain conduit such as to receive waste water from the aquarium module, the waste water containing waste products;   c) a reservoir module configured to hold water, the reservoir module being located at a level lower than the garden module, the reservoir module being in fluid communication with the garden module via at least one second drain conduit such as to receive water from the garden module, the reservoir module being in fluid communication with the aquarium module via at least one return conduit, the reservoir module comprising a pump fluidly connected to the at least one return conduit such as to pump water back to the aquarium module;   wherein the aquarium module, the garden module, the reservoir module, the at least one first drain conduit, the at least one second drain conduit, and the at least one return conduit form a water circulation loop; and   wherein the plants located in the garden module consume at least a portion of the waste products contained in the waste water.   
     
     
         26 . An aquaponic system comprising:
 a) an aquarium module configured to house and support aquatic species;   b) a garden module configured to support plant species, the garden module being located substantially adjacent to the aquarium module and at a level lower than a water level of the aquarium module, the garden module being in fluid communication with the aquarium module via at least one drain conduit such as to receive waste water from the aquarium module, the waste water containing waste products, the garden module being in fluid communication with the aquarium module via at least one return conduit, the garden module comprising a pump fluidly connected to the at least one return conduit such as to pump water back to the aquarium module;   wherein the aquarium module, the garden module, the at least one drain conduit, and the at least one return conduit form a water circulation loop; and   wherein the plants located in the garden module consume at least a portion of the waste products contained in the waste water.